Ben Obese-Jecty MP: written questions
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Written questions
Military Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in procuring a replacement for the Viking T1 glider.
Answer: We are reviewing a Life Extension Plan for the Viking T1 glider. As such, there is currently no requirement to replace the glider.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRivet Joint AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125509More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has he made in procuring a replacement for Rivet Joint.
Answer: All spending decisions for the next ten years will be confirmed in the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRAF Molesworth: ConstructionMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44689 on RAF Molesworth: Construction, if he will set out the payment terms for construction and maintenance work for United States Visiting Forces projects tha
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) initially meets all costs for construction and maintenance work on United States Visiting Forces (USVF) projects. The timing of payments to contractors depends on the terms agreed in each contract. Once the MOD has paid the c...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMarines: Rescue ServicesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the level of combat search and rescue capability of the Royal Marines Joint Personnel Recovery.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence does not routinely comment on combat search and rescue capabilities for reasons of operational security.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHMS BulwarkMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125506More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the current status of HMS Bulwark.
Answer: HMS Bulwark is undergoing regeneration as part of its disposal process in Devonport currently. The Ministry of Defence will make further announcements about HMS Bulwark in due course.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNATO: IndustryMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125505More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made in meeting the NATO Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge.
Answer: The NATO Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge, agreed by Allies at the Washington Summit in July 2024, commits NATO to strengthening defence industrial capacity and resilience across the Alliance. The UK is actively supporting delivery of the Pledge throu...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordUSA: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125504More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 36208 on USA: Military Alliances, what discussions he has held with his US counterparts on the ongoing commitment of the United States to the European Reassuranc
Answer: The Defence Secretary speaks with his US counterpart regularly on a range of topics to ensure coherence and alignment between our two nations. However, they have not recently discussed the US’ European Reassurance Initiative.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had discussions with (a) Boeing, (b) BAE Systems and (c) Aermacchi on procuring a new fast-jet trainer for the Royal Air Force since 1 April 2025.
Answer: Routine engagement has occurred across the industry to inform future investment. We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan, which will confirm funding for the next ten years.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHawk AircraftMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the finite fatigue index of each remaining Hawk T1 aircraft.
Answer: Across all Hawk T1 airframes we have retained sufficient overall remaining available fatigue life to enable Red Arrows tasking until 2030 as planned.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: Guided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125501More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of the Russian Bagulnik-82 120mm mortar UGV as a potential threat to British forces in Estonia and Ukraine.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence continues to work closely with the Government of Ukraine on the sharing of knowledge and insights to ensure that our support meets Ukraine's priority requirements and that the Armed Forces of Ukraine is responding effectively to th...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordGuided Weapons: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125446More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference his Department's press release entitled Development of battle-winning hypersonic technology accelerated under new AUKUS deal, published on 18 November 2024, what progress he has made since in devel
Answer: The Ministry of Defence's Hypersonics programme intends to deliver a weapon demonstrator by 2030. Under the current Strategic Outline Case approval, the current phase is planned to report in early 2027, which will inform future choices. The UK spent more ...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125445More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many ships are planned to be delivered via the Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme.
Answer: In his speech to DSEI in September 2025, the First Sea Lord set out that the Multi Role Strike Ship (MRSS) concept would fundamentally change to have uncrewed capabilities at their heart, but be more modular, resilient, dispersed and powerful. These chang...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125444More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what date does he plan to launch the competitive design phase of the Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS) programme.
Answer: In his speech to DSEI in September 2025, the First Sea Lord set out that the Multi Role Strike Ship (MRSS) concept would fundamentally change to have uncrewed capabilities at their heart, but be more modular, resilient, dispersed and powerful. These chang...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWarships: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125443More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when does he expect to deliver the Common Command Vessel for the Royal Navy.
Answer: Future capability plans for the Royal Navy are subject to the outcome of the Defence Investment Plan.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has made an assessment of the potential military applications of Vertical Aerosoace’s G-EVTA demonstrator further to its first piloted thrustborne transition on 6 April 2026.
Answer: The MOD encourages innovation in the aerospace sector. Capability and Innovation staff continually monitor the civil aerospace market for innovation which may have future military application against our requirements. The Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) hos...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the F-35B Lightning II to have reached full operating capability.
Answer: Full Operating Capability (FOC) for Carrier Strike, which incorporated F-35B Lightning II FOC, was announced by the Secretary of State for Defence on 17 November 2025.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125440More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by what date will the F-35B Lightning II graduate from the major projects portfolio.
Answer: The F-35B Lightning II programme graduated from the Government Major Projects Portfolio on 1 April 2026.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125439More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to maintain a fleet of 138 F-35B Lightning II aircraft; and whether he plans to use future tranches of F-35B Lighting II aircraft to replace F-35B Lighting II aircraft that are currently in servi
Answer: Decisions will be taken across the life of the Programme. We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan, which will take forward the recommendations of the Strategic Defence Review.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125438More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he remains committed to procuring a total order of 138 F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence remains committed to procuring 138 F-35 Lightning aircraft across the life of the Programme.
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordF-35 Aircraft: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125437More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 56964 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, on what dates did the Royal Air Force receive the remaining F-35B Lightning II aircraft.
Answer: On 13 March 2026, the UK accepted its 48th F-35B aircraft.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRussia: ShippingMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125436More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's joint press notice entitled Shadow fleet set to be interdicted in UK waters in latest blow to Russia, published on 25 March 2026, how many Russian shadow fleet vessels under UK
Answer: We will not go into specifics on our assessments as this could compromise our ability to successfully take action against these ships, only benefitting our adversaries.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordShipping: RussiaDepartment for TransportTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125435More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Government's press notice entitled Shadow fleet set to be interdicted in UK waters in latest blow to Russia, published on 25 March 2026, how many of the Russian shadow fleet vessels under
Answer: Deterring and disrupting the Russian shadow fleet, including those subject to sanctions, is a priority for the UK. The UK Government constantly monitors UK waters to ensure the safety of mariners, protect the marine environment and uphold the UK’s nation...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBelgium: Military AlliancesMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled UK and Belgium sign multi-million pound Mission Data partnership, published on 31 March 2026, by when he plans to agree a burden-sharing model with Belgium.
Answer: The burden‑sharing arrangements for the UK–Belgium Mission Data programme were agreed as part of the Memorandum of Understanding underpinning the partnership.
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNorway: WarshipsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125433More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has held with his Norwegian counterparts on the potential procurement of the new class of standardised naval vessels developed for the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency by Kongsberg Defence &
Answer: The UK has a close defence relationship with Norway and under the Lunna House Agreement holds regular discussions with Norwegian counterparts on a range of maritime capability and industrial matters. Any future procurement considerations will be subject t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordGuided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 125432More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which other missile programmes, beyond Meteor, will be coordinated through the new joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office.
Answer: The joint Portfolio Office will not be responsible for coordinating the Meteor missile programme. As set out in the Lancaster House 2.0 Declaration, the joint Complex Weapons Portfolio Office will support activities related to SCALP/Storm Shadow acquisiti...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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